After a shooting spree late Nov. 7 at a country-music bar in Thousand Oaks, about 40 miles from the heart of Los Angeles, Archbishop Jose H. Gomez of Los Angeles asked people to “pray hard” for the victims and their families.

Archbishop José Gomez offered prayers for victims of a shooting at a country dance hall this week, telling those present at a prayer vigil Thursday that even when we cannot understand senseless violence, we can trust in God’s love.